MANILA (UPDATED) - Two international airlines will start flight operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Sunday, October 28.

According to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Qantas Airways and United Airlines will move flights from the NAIA Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, Manila's most recently built air terminal.

Upon transfer, passengers with flights in these airlines should check in at Terminal 3.

"They are starting already to build their own offices," Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said in a forum on Wednesday.

Two other airlines are set for transfer to Terminal 3, Monreal said: Qatar Airways will move flight operations on December 1, while Turkish Airlines will transfer on January 1, 2019.

• 'Rationalization' of NAIA terminals deferred

Airlines currently operating at NAIA Terminal 3 are Singapore Airlines, Delta Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific.

Monreal said some airlines are expected to move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, while others are expected to move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2, exclusively used by flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).

Crowded NAIA has a total of four terminals, the other one being used exclusively for domestic flights.

"The essence is to minimize international operations [at] Terminal 2 because as we all know Terminal 2 is not really designed for international travel," he said.

He added that the movement has been planned and that the MIAA does not see any effect on operations.

Monreal said some domestic flights will also transfer soon.

"We already have talks with PAL and mayroon silang ililipat na flights (there are flights they will transfer) from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2, domestic," he said.

The planned terminal reassignments under a rationalization program did not push through in August.

"Discussions gave rise to unforeseen operational constraints that require longer time to resolve," the statement said.

Some PAL flights were earlier transferred to Terminal 1 to prepare for the rehabilitation of Terminal 2.